ROSSENDALE Museum has closed for a major refit after it was saved from the axe earlier this year.

The museum was saved thanks to a partnership between Lancashire County Council and Rossendale Borough Council and is now closed to the public until late next spring.

The Whitaker Park venue will undergo a facelift through the winter, but will re-open complete with a new education room, a lift and brand new toilets.

The revamp of the museum has been made possible thanks to £200,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Lancashire County Council has taken over the running of the museum, but will continue to work closely with Rossendale Borough Council which will still officially own the building.

It was set to be axed as part of budget cuts imposed after Rossendale Borough Council was named the worst local authority in the country last year. The museum, which is celebrating its centenary this year, boasts a considerable natural history collection and is also famous for displaying a Zeppelin bomb dropped in Rossendale during the First World War.

Marcus Johnstone, Lancashire County Council's cabinet member for cultural services and communications, said: "We are looking forward to working with Rossendale Borough Council and are delighted to have played a part in securing the long-term future of the museum.

"We are sorry the building will have to close for some months during the winter, but the significant improvements planned will make a huge difference for visitors next spring." Leader of Lancashire County Council and Rossendale County Councillor, Hazel Harding, said: "The Friends of Rossendale Museum deserve a big thank you for helping to raise money which has been put towards the lottery funding to pay for the building changes."